The Shocking Truth Behind Oppenheimer Ending Revealed!

Christopher Nolan, known for his impressive filmography including the independent film Following in 1998, is renowned for directing original films where he contributes to the plot and script. However, his latest release, Oppenheimer, marks a significant departure as it is a biopic.

Oppenheimer boasts an illustrious ensemble cast comprising Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, and many other talented actors. This film offers a deeply personal perspective on the life of acclaimed American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. Spanning an extensive 3-hour runtime, this epic masterpiece presents audiences with a multitude of themes and narratives to explore.

What Is Oppenheimer About?

To call Oppenheimer merely a biopic would be an understatement. The film delves deep into the psyche of J. Robert Oppenheimer, providing a unique introspective perspective. In fact, Matt Damon revealed that the script was written in the first person, further immersing the audience in Oppenheimer's thoughts and experiences. Drawing inspiration from the biographical book American Prometheus, co-authored by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the film centers around J. Robert Oppenheimer, brilliantly portrayed by Cillian Murphy. It chronicles his formative years at the University of Göttingen in Germany, leading up to his pivotal role in the Manhattan Project.

The Manhattan Project was a classified initiative authorized by the US government in 1942. It involved gathering the nation's brightest scientists in New Mexico to develop and test the world's first nuclear bomb. While some viewed it as a scientific exploration, others were aware that the ultimate purpose was to create a weapon to be used against the Nazis, with the aim of ending World War II.

However, by 1945, Hitler was already deceased and the Nazi regime had been extinguished. At this point, the bomb was still several months away from completion, raising the question of its future utilization. Even though the threat posed by the Nazis had been eliminated, the war continued, with Japan now becoming the new focus for American forces.

Following the successful trial of the bomb, the United States proceeded to develop two additional ones for deployment over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Undoubtedly, this choice greatly troubled Oppenheimer and numerous other scientists, given that the detonation and lingering consequences of nuclear radioactivity resulted in a tragic loss of approximately 200,000 lives.

After Japan's surrender, the war came to an end and Oppenheimer gained immense admiration as an American hero, despite his lack of personal resonance with such a title (which serves as a crucial element in the film). Several years later, the Soviet Union embarked on the development of their own atomic bomb, leading to informal accusations against Oppenheimer, casting doubt on his loyalty as a potential communist and even a Soviet spy. This accusation was brought forth by Lewis Strauss, the former US Secretary of Commerce and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.

Throughout the film, the narrative fluctuates between the events surrounding the Manhattan Project (depicted in color) and the subsequent hearings to determine whether Oppenheimer should be prosecuted for his alleged betrayal (depicted in black and white). Nevertheless, once the war ends, the film primarily focuses on the latter scenario.

How Does Oppenheimer End?

In the final act, Strauss endeavors to permanently bring down Oppenheimer. Following an extensive hearing, Strauss successfully revokes Oppenheimer's government security clearance. However, his attempts to prosecute Oppenheimer as a communist and Soviet spy prove unsuccessful. In the aftermath of the war and the subsequent hearing, Oppenheimer carries an overwhelming burden of guilt for the lives lost due to his devastating "gadget." He consistently sought the counsel and guidance of his trusted friend and scientific collaborator, Albert Einstein, portrayed by Tom Conti.

At the start of the movie, Strauss is introduced to viewers when Oppenheimer pays him a visit at Princeton University. Strauss accompanies Oppenheimer to meet Einstein, who is standing beside a tranquil pond. While Oppenheimer leaves Strauss to converse with Einstein, the latter abruptly walks away, appearing noticeably distressed. Initially, Strauss and the audience are led to believe that Oppenheimer spoke ill of Strauss to Einstein, which fuels Strauss's resentment towards Oppenheimer and becomes one of the driving factors behind his relentless efforts to undermine him.

Eventually, it is revealed that the visit to Princeton occurs sometime after the war and before the hearing. The discussion between Oppenheimer and Einstein does not involve Strauss, but rather centers on the concern that the creation of the atomic bomb will ultimately result in the destruction of the world.

Throughout the film, Nolan skillfully incorporates the recurring theme of ripples and chain reactions. This concept is portrayed in relation to how an atomic bomb operates, with particles continually breaking apart into smaller fragments. Oppenheimer's initial apprehension stems from the possibility that the bomb's impact would be ongoing and indefinitely spread throughout the world. Although this scenario did not occur literally, the conversation between Oppenheimer and Einstein suggests that the chain reaction symbolizes the atomic bomb becoming the primary weapon in future warfare.

Oppenheimer's gaze fixates on the horizon, as the scene shifts to a portrayal of missiles ascending into the heavens and a captivating sight of our planet from the vastness of space, now consumed by enveloping flames racing across its surface with alarming speed. It is in this moment that Oppenheimer experiences deep concerns, recognizing the perilous consequences that his creation of a solitary nuclear weapon possesses for the very existence of our entire world.

Ultimately, Oppenheimer exposes the dire repercussions that arise when a nation's insatiable greed and quest for dominance takes precedence, resulting in profound and enduring implications for global mortality, as well as for the inquisitive and brilliant minds of the world's foremost intellectuals.